The Upper West Side is a neighborhood full of history and tradition, adorned with buildings that tell tales of innovation in function and style. Through the decades, what began as a simple stop along a mail route has developed into one of America’s most fascinating locations, and now people from all over come here to experience the unique culture on display. There’s a lot to see here, and it can be overwhelming choosing what to visit first, so here are three great landmarks worth checking out.
The Guggenheim Museum (1071 5th Ave)
A favorite of tourists and natives alike, this world-famous art collection is certainly no secret. The gallery itself began in 1939 as a museum of non-objective painting, but as the collection grew over the years it became clear that a new building was needed. Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to design a new home for the paintings, creating seven designs over a twelve-year period. The finalized design took five more years to finish, and in 1959 the Guggenheim museum opened its doors to the public, complete with the distinctive curving design you see today. No longer limited to paintings, the collection now features sculpture, modern and postmodern art, and much more.
The Carnegie Mansion (2 East 91st Street)
The name “Carnegie” was near-synonymous with the steel industry in the late 1880s, so it’s no surprise that Andrew Carnegie’s mansion prominently features it. Built in 1903, this 64-room mansion was the first house in the country with a steel frame, and was designed by wish of Carnegie himself to be “the most modest, plainest and most roomy house in New York.” Carnegie also used the building as a headquarters for his extensive post-career philanthropic efforts and made sure to fill its rooms with art, literature, and quotes he found to be inspiring. The building is now home to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, dedicated to historic and contemporary design.
Manhattan House (200 East 66th Street)
Since its completion in 1951, Manhattan House has been a hot spot for Upper East Side luxury apartments, a trend that continues even to this day. The building’s clean 21-story design claims a full block in the heart of Manhattan, and is the first example of modernist architecture in the state, popularizing smooth white brick and balcony space. Designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, the spacious apartments have housed such tenants as jazz musician Benny Goodman, former governor Hugh Carey, and actress Grace Kelly. Today Manhattan House still stands tall as an example of architectural mastery, and contains many luxury apartments for possible Upper East Side tenants who wish to live in comfort and style.
